When publishers decide on release dates, I wonder if there's any rhyme, reason or concern for gamers' wallets. This is either the best August ever -- or the most expensive. Just this month, we've had the launches of "Disney Infinity," "Saints Row 4," "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified," "Splinter Cell: Blacklist," "Killer Is Dead," "Madden NFL 25" and "Lost Planet 3."

With those releases, game companies have compressed three months of good games into two weeks. There's no way to play all of them; I'm even playing catch-up with the content. However, I've managed to play a majority of those titles, and I've ranked three that I haven't reviewed. With all the choices out there, here's what you should be playing:

1. "Splinter Cell: Blacklist" -- No other game offers the mixture of depth, value and quality that Sam Fisher's latest adventure does. This sequel takes the ideas from "Conviction" and brushes them onto a larger canvas, one where Fisher and his team have to stop a terrorist group called The Engineers from destroying American interests.

Gameplay elements such as Mark and Execute and Last Known Position return, but this time around, players have a slew of high-tech gadgets, such as drones and sticky cams that augment those moves. In addition, Fisher has a support team to rely on, and that gives the game more of a "Mission: Impossible" feel, compared to the Jason Bourne adventure of the previous outing.

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To top it all off, "Blacklist" features several well-done multiplayer options, such as Co-op Missions and Spies vs. Mercs. They're seamlessly integrated with the single-player experience so that the pieces make up a cohesive whole.

2. "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified" -- The spinoff to the successful "XCOM" reboot has had a tortured history since it was revealed in 2010. The project has gone through numerous iterations, but give credit to 2K Marin for sticking with the concept until the team got it right.

The result is an innovative tactical shooter, where players take on the role of field agent William Carter. After an alien invasion cripples the U.S. in the 1960s, he's thrown into the fledgling XCOM organization that's focused on fighting the foreign menace. What separates "The Bureau" from its peers is the Battle Focus ability that lets players command a three-man squad. In that mode, time slows, and players can plan out ambushes or counterattacks on the fly.

When it works, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing a plan come together. But the feature does have its frustrating bugs and hiccups. Nevertheless, it's the story that carries the last third of the campaign and saves this unconventional but intriguing shooter.

3. "Killer Is Dead" -- This title can be summed up in one word: weird. Suda51's latest project is odd even by his standards as players fill the shoes of Mondo Zappa, an assassin who works for the state-run Executioner Office. He takes on a series of jobs that become more and more far-fetched and surreal.

Although the level design leaves a lot to be desired, the sword and gun gameplay offers a few unexpected twists. Players can mash buttons and still feel successful, but the combat is more about reading moves and counterattacking. At times, it almost feels like a Platinum Games title, but with rougher edges.